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Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
Four traffic police officers stationed at Chitungwiza Police Station, who allegedly solicited for bribes from motorists at a roadblock along Harare-Hwedza road, appeared in court yesterday charged with criminal abuse of duty as public officials. They were arrested by Marondera CID officers acting on a tip-off and were found in possession of $82, whose origins they failed to explain.

Constable Nomatter Tapfumanei (43) of Glen View 8, Harare, is jointly charged with Constables John Hamutoni (35), Lidia Manyanga (25) and Tafadzwa Duri (25) all of Chitungwiza Camp. The quartet is being represented by Mr Phillip Hamunakwadi of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers.

They were not asked to plead to the charge when they appeared before Marondera magistrate Ms Josephine Sande. Ms Sande remanded them out of custody to Friday for trial. The prosecutor Ms Tariro Shirichena, told the court that the four who were enforcing traffic orders along Harare -Hwedza Road on November 20 at around 9am, allegedly demanded bribes from motorists.

Acting on a tip-off, detectives from Marondera CID rushed to the scene and found the quartet at a 30 km peg manning a roadblock. They had a Peugeot 306 with registration number ZRP 3320 with Hamutoni inside.

On arrival, the detectives introduced themselves to the quartet and the purpose of their visit. The court heard that Hamutoni, Manyanga and Duri were in possession of three Z693 books Chitungwiza traffic, which had not been used. In one of the books, the detectives reportedly saw $40 which the four had received for the day.

Further allegations are that the four were requested to declare extra cash which was in their possession. Tapfumanei allegedly produced $82 in various denominations. He was asked to explain the purpose of the money she had in her possession and failed to proffer a meaningful explanation.

She allegedly pointed that she could not explain further since she had “stress.” The four were arrested for acting in a common purpose and inconsistent with their duty as police officers.